Printing-press



(No ModL) i lllsleets--Sheet 1. H! H. CUMMINGS.

PRI1`T'1'IN{}A PRESS. No. 577,100. Patented Feb. 16,.-1897.

(No Model.) 11 Sheets-Sheet 2. u

- kH. H. GUMMINGS.

PRINTING PRESS.

No. 577,100. Patented Peb'. 16,1897.

No Model.) 11 sheets-sheet 3.

` ILE. CUMM'INGS.

Y 1}.1.]1\1'[`]1\1GrPRESS. N0. 577,100. Patented Feb. 16, 1897.

' (No Model.)

v 1.1 Sheets-Sheet `5.. I-I. H. GUMMINGS.

PRINTING PRESS.

No. 577,100. 1 Patented Peb. 16, 1897.

21' ,9 llink, 67

/ iaf v 6 E? fj 11-Sh`eets-sneet 6*.

(No Model.)

H.v H. CUMMINGS.

PRINTING PRESS.

Patented Feb. 16, 1.897.

(Ne Model.) 11 sheetssheet 7.

H. H. GUMMINGS.

PRINTING PRESS.

N0. 577,100'. Patented Feb. 16, 1897.

F' .17.5. f y 504 502/ a 501 500 al d (No Model.) y11 sheetssheet 9.

H.. H. CUMMINGS.

PRINTING PRESS.

Patented P eb. 16, 1897.

' Y I* Unir-Ten j#STATns PATENT OFFICE.

^ HENRYH. cUMMiNeS, ou MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIeNoR To THE A.'NEIV`MULTIPLE PRESSY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PRINTING-PRESS.

1 `sPnoIFIoATIoN forming pere of Lettere Patent No. 577,100, datedFebruary 16,1897.

` Application filed-July 30,1894. Serial No. 519,030. (No modeLl To allwhom t mag/concern: Be it known that l, HENRY H. CUMMINGS, of

Malden, county of Middlesex, Statesof Massachusetts, have invented anImprovement in Pi'intingPresses', of which the following de- 4scription,in connection with vthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, likeletters and figures on the drawings represen ting like parts.

This invention has for itsobject the production of a novelprinting-press more es,- pecially adapted forprinting matter which istobe automatically collated in regular order or consecutively, saidpress being extremely useful for printing, say, weekly-offeringenvelops, calendars, cards for games, or any l cards or sheets which itis desired to print and collate as a continuous operation.

My novel press also has means whereby the envelops, cards, orsheetsbeing printed may be numbered to designate the order of theirarrangement in packages.

,In my novel press the envelop, card, or

sheet to be printed, and which may hereinafter, for the sake of brevity,be designated by the term sheet,7 is taken automatically from a pile inasupply-box, is fed to a multisided platen, which besides being movedtoward and from the form, as I shall designate the stereotype or otherplate or the types used, is also rotated to thereby7 enable one side ofthe platen to be supplied with a sheet while another sheet held atanother side of the platen is being numbered and another sheet atanother side of the platen is being printed, and yet it may be atanother side ot' the platen a numbered and printed sheet may be beingdelivered.

The numbered and printed sheet taken from the platen is automaticallytransferred into a receiving-box. For this class of work, in order thatthe same may be done expeditiously, and therefore practically, I employa number of forms which are arranged in the `proper order about amovable bed, herein shown as of circular shape or outline, the form ortype being held each in a proper block or chase, said blocks or chasesbeing` con- -nected to said bed.

The bed has combined with it suitable mechanism whereby it may be moved,the movement in Vthe form in which I have herein chosen to illustrate myinvention being circular and'rotary.

During the time that the sheet carried by theplaten is held in printingcontact with the form which is revolving on the bed the said platen andbed are locked or coupled to gether, so that the platen and bed travelin unison for a short distance, and to enable this to be done the platenis mounted upon a carriage which in this instance of my invention isshown as supported upon the movable bed.

I have combined with the multisided platen a numbering mechanism havinginking devices, said mechanism, also designated by the term auxiliaryprinting mechanism, also printing the numbers on the sheets While heldby the platen, and the numbering mechanism is automatically ratchetedalong to increase the printing-number one for each rotation of the bed.

I have devised a novel inhing mechanism for inking the forms.

The inliing-rolls are su pplied at the proper times with ink by means ofa ductor-roll carried by a lever or finger which is vibrated between thefountain and the Said inking-rolls- The sheets to be printed willpreferably be arranged in a pile in the supply-box, and the pile will beso laid that the main part of the weight of the mass `resting on thebottom plate of the Supply-box will fall upon the outer ends of thelowermost sheets, leaving their inner ends under but little Weight inorder that the separating device, to be described, when the same is toact upon the inner end of the lowermost sheet of the pile may readilydetach the end of said sheet from the sheet above it in order that itsends may be engaged by the carrier which is to take the sheet from thepile and transfer it to the holding mechanism carried by the platen.

The separating device is shown as pneu- 9 matically operated, or, inother Words, it is a suction device working continually to cause theinner end of the lowermost envelop of the pile to adhere to it. 4

It is very essential in a practical machine IOO ployed and theseparator' should always work.

One part of my invention consists in a press containing the followinginstrumentalities, viz: a continuouslyrotating form-bed having aplurality of forms, a multisided platen 'provided with sheet-holders,and means to rotate said platen and to move the same toward and fromsaid form-bed, substantially as will be described.

Other features of my invention will be hereinafter described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1, in elevation, shows the central portion of my novel press, thebed carrying the forms being broken ont, the form being omit ted, theparts outside the said. bed being chiefly omitted because fully shown inother drawings on an enlarged scale, Fig. 1 being made chiefly toillustrate the driving parts. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of part ofthe movable form-bed with attached forms, the inking mechanism for theforms, the sheetfeeding mechanism,the platen and numbering mechanism,the carrier for feeding the sheets to the platen being shown as havingcaught a sheet and as carrying` it toward the platen, the latter beingthen at rest in its outward position. Fig. 3 is a perspective viewlooking at the parts shown in Fig. 2 from the opposite side of thesupply-box. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail looking at the machine from thepoint of view occupied for Fig. 2, the platen being removed from thehead and post carrying it, the inking mechanism for the forms, and thesupply and receiving boxes and the carrier an d sheet-delivery mechanismbeing omitted. Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section to the left of theline x, Fig. 4. Fig. G, in elevation, shows the platen removed with thesheet-holder open. Fig. 7 is a top view of the platen with its containedpawl-ring; Fig. S, a bottom view of the platen to show its attachednotched ring. Fig. 9 is a detail showing part of the stud f, holding thefriction-box fs, the latter being in section along the dotted line shownAthereon in Fig. 3, where the said parts are represented in workingposition. Fig. 10 is a section of the deliverynippel-s along the dottedline 0c', Fig. 2. Fig. 11 shows the movable delivery-nipper of Fig. 10detached; Fig. 12, a front view of the carriage to be referred to, whichcontains the head on which is mounted the platen, the connected trackson which run the antifriction-wheels of the inking-rollers beingpartially broken out; Fig. 12, a detail of the rock-shaft 1S and itsbearings. Fig. 13 is a section below the line m22, Fig. 12. Fig. 13a isan end view of the distributing-bed. Fig. 14 is a section in the line003, Figs. 2 and 24, chiefly to show the sheet-clamping jaw. Fig. 15 isan inner side view of the sheet-guide detached from the framework, oneof the side edge guides being broken out to show the wing 011 which saidguide is free to slide.

Fig. 16, on an enlarged scale, shows vthe lever which is instrumentalin'actuating the numbering mechanism and showing the numbering mechanismin the position when the numberinghead is takingink; Fig. 16, atop Viewof the bottom plate of the supply-box. Fig. 17 shows in top view,partially broken, the separator to pull down the inner end. of thebottom sheet of a pile of sheets; Fig. 18, a View of the opposite sideof the carrier to that shown in Figs. 2 and. 21; Fig. 19, an enlargedView of a finger attached to the framework; Fig. 20, -an enlarged viewof a heel-piece attached to the lever shown in Fig. 16 and adapted tostrike against the roller shown -in Fig. 10. Fig. 21 shows one side ofthe carrier as holding a sheet and on its way to the platen; Fig. 22, adetail showing the opening device for the sheet-holders. Fig. 23 showspart of the head and the auxiliary locking device for the platen. Fig.24 is a detail showing the sheet-receiving box and its bottom plateopen; Fig. 25, a detail showing part of the form-inking mechanismdetached from the machine and partially broken out, lthe in king-rollers being omitted. Fig. 2G is a plan view of the uppermostroller-carrying disk of the inking mechanism, one of the arms C027 beingomitted; Fig. 26a, a detail of the block m8 and spring-wing m7. Fig. 27shows the rear side of one of the forms detached. Fig. 2S shows amodification to be described.

The framework shown has a foot from which rise arms A and A', providedwith a post.

(shown by dotted lines) to which is fixed a top plate AX, said frameworkalso having a bed-plate A2.

rPhe machine to be described derives its rotation from a power-shaft A3,in practice driven from any suitable source at any desired speed, saidpower-shaft being provided with any usual or suitable friction or clutchpulleys to control its speed and its times of motion and rest.

The power-shaft has a bevel-pinion A4, which engages a bevel-pinion A5,fast on a short shaft A", having a pinion A7, which engages a toothedgear A8, attached to a hollow shaft A9, (shown by dotted lines in Fig.1,) said hollow shaft surrounding the post part of the column A.

The hollow shaft carries a cam B, provided at its upper side with asuitable cam-groove,' which receives a roller or other stud B on a leverB2, mounted on a stud B3, carried by a bracket B4,herein shown as fixedto the framework, the opposite end of said lever being connected by alink B5 with a suitable carriage C14, to be described, said carriagecarrying the platen to be described.

The hollow shaft A9v at its upper end has attached to it a gear A10,which engages an intermediate gear A12 on a short shaft SOO, providedwith a pinion A13, which engages a toothed wheel A14, fast on the hub ofthe form-bed C, thus rotating said bed continuously.

IOO

IIO

The shaft 300, holding the gear A12, isl

mounted in a movableA journal-bearing 302 and in a yoke A15, securedin'an adjustable manner by set-screws A1G to the top plate AX, so thatsaid yoke may be adjusted to throw the toothed pinion A13 out of meshwith the gear-toothed wheel A14 whenever it is desired to stop therotation of the form-bed.

The hollow shaft A11, before described, forms a bearing for the hub ofthe form-bed, and said hollow sh'aft is provided with an eccentric C',which is surrounded by an eccentric-strap C2, having jointed to it alink C3,

in turn applied to an eccentric C4, mounted on a stud 04X, fixed upon aslidel C5, having pivoted upon it an arm C11, having a semisphericalseat, which is held by screw (1'1 to the ball-like upper end C8 of astud C11, fixed by suitable nut C10 (see Fig. y5) toa swinging head C12,mounted upon a stud C13, attached to the lower ends of the side pieces(see Fig. 12) of acarriage C14, (see Figs. 2, et, 12, and 13,) saidcarriage having a guideway C15 in which may be reciprocated the saidslide C5, the stud C9 referred to receiving upon it the revoluble platenP. Thus by means of the mechanism just described the platen is swungback and forth in relation to the continuously-moving form-bed by eachreciprocation of the longitudinally-moving link C3. This link soreciprocates as each form comes before the platen by reason of the factin the present instance that the gears are so proportioned thatthenumber of rotations of the sleeve A9 (and hence of the eccentric C)to one rotation of the form bed or carrier equals the number of Vformscarried on said bed.

The eccentric-strap C2 referred to is prevented from rotating with theeccentric by some suitable device, as, for instance, a link D2, mountedloosely upon the upper end of a' stud D3, suitably supported upon theframework, a suitable collar D' on said stud sustaining the weight ofthe said link.

The toothed gear A10, fast on the hollow shaft A, also engages a pinionD4, fast on the lower end of a short shaft, (see Fig. 1,) eX- tendedthrough suitable bearings sustained by the top plate AX, the upper endof said shaft having' a pinion D5, which engages a toot-hed gear D,connected to or forming part of a cam-hub D7, having two cam-grooves D8D9, said cam-hub being free to rotate about a stud D10, screwed into orsuitably fixed to the upper end of the postheretofore described asconnected to the column A.

The power-shaft AS has, as shown, a small bevel-gear F., which engages abevel-gear E',

loose on a short stud E2, supported in suitable bearings in theframework, said gear having asprocket-wheel E4 attached to it, which,through a suitable sprocket-chain E5, engages and rotates asprocket-wheel ci, normally loose on a shaft a', (see Figs. 1 and 25,)to be described, said chain in its run passing over other suitablesprocket-wheels, (not shown,) which act merely as guides for the trotypeor a series of typeto constitute a form.

In the present embodiment of my invention said plates are adapted toreceive an electrotype and` to hold said electrotype in place. The plate(see Fig. l27) is provided with three screws c3 c4 c5, upon which aremounted dogs cG c7 es, which, extending through slots in the plate,engage the stereotype-plate and clamp it iirmly in position. Any desirednumber of these forms may be used, they containing any desired type orother thing to be printed.

The carriage C14 referred to consists, essentially, of two plates, eachhaving a like curved groove d, (see Fig. 13,) to fit the upper 'andlower edges of the form-bed C, said plates being connected by likevertical side pieces or bars of the carriage C14, (see Fig. 12,) saidbars supporting at their lower ends the stud C13, the lowermost plate ofthe carriage having a stud dx, (see Fig. 3,) which is engaged by thelink B5, before described, so that-the lever B2 is enabled toreciprocate said carriage for a slight distance upon the form-bed, thecarriage being so reciprocated when the platen P is cooperating with theform on the form-bed to print, and then the carriage is moved back inthe opposite direction to its starting-point, the bed continuing torotate.

The platen P herein shown consists, essentially, of a four-sided blockconstituting in reality a series of four platens brought successivelyinto printing operation, as presently described, said block being boredto fit the post C9, the lower end of said platen having let into it alocking-ringb, (see Figs. 5, (5, and 8,) having four like notches b'.

The upper end of the platen is recessed (see Figs. 2, 5, and '7) toreceive loosely a pawl-ring f, provided with four notches, said ringbeing kept loosely in place in the end of said platen by means ofsuitable keys f', (see Fig. 5,) held in place by screws f2.

The ring j' has a stud f4, which receives a link f5, (see Figs. 5 and6,) jointed atf6 to a foot f7, held in a friction-box composed of twoplates f8 fSX, sustained on a suitable stud or stand fg, connected tothe top plate AX, a portion of said stud being provided with ascrewthread, as shown in Fig. i), upon which is applied a suitable adjusting-nut fgX, which acts on a spring f10, resting against the uppermember of the friction-box, the footf7 being slotted, as'shown in Fig.9, to slide in said friction-box as the post C11, carryingv the platen,is moved toward andfrom the formbed, the friction on the foot in theslide-box eecting thereciprocation of the ring f about the post C9, thusrotating the platen. VThe IOO IIO

ringfhas (see Fig. 2) a stop f, which co-v the ring f, owing to the factthat the foot f7 is preventedby the friction-box f8 fSX from sliding, ismade to oscillate about the stud Cg as a center in the direction of thearrow on said pawl-ring, (see Fig. 7,) and such movement of the ringalways carries one of the notches of said ring just past the end of thepawl fm, so that when the platen is next moved away from the form-bedthe said ring moving with it acts, by one of its notches, against saidpawl, but during the iirst part of the outward movement of the platenthe latter is prevented from being rotated by means of a iinger fis (seeFigs. 4 and 12) acting by its end against the side of the platen, and atsuch time the foot f7 is drawn out of said clamp-box, but as soon as theplaten passes said iinger]C18 and is left free to turn about post C9 thefriction exerted on the foot by the friction-box is suflicient to causethe ring f, anotch of which rests against the pawl, to effect aquarter-rotation of the platen before the platen completes its ontwardmovement. In this way the platen is given an intermitting movement aboutthe post C, it being partially rotated just as it arrives in its outwardposition away from the form, but having no motion of rotation whileapproaching the form.

The eccentric on the stud Ck1 has a nutlike head, and by turning theeccentric on thel said stud the extent of movement of slide C5 may beaccurately adjusted to effect just the proper extent of thro7 of theplaten to adjust the degree of its pressure upon the sheet beingprinted, according to its thickness.

Itis also essential in the operation of my press that the platen belocked when in its extreme outward position, for it must then be in aposition of registration with relation to the movement of thesheet-carrier, which is to supply the platen with the sheet or thing tobe printed, and also with the sheet-delivery devices which are to takethe printed and numbered sheet orV article from the platen. To do this,I have combined with the platen a suitable llocking device or devices,they being carried by the head O12 and being adapted to engage thenotches in the ring b, attached to the lower end of the platen.

The main lock g (see Figs. 4, 12, and 13) consists, essentially, of afinger pivoted on the head C12 at g in a slot at the rear side of thesaid head, (see Fig. 12,) and adapted to enter that one of the notchesb' of ring b which is nearest the form-bed, (see Fig. 4,) aspringtailpiece g2, (see Fig. 12,) connected with said linger, actingagainst a pin g3, projecting 'fi 577,100v

from a hubr secured to the studCbefore described, the said spring in theoutward movement of the head and platen meeting said pin just before theplaten reaches its outward position, the lock engaging and locking theplaten firmly in place, said lock remaining in engagement with theplaten until the latter on its return motion toward the form puts thesheet carried by it against the form to effect the printing of thesheet.

The lock g has a heel g4', (see Fig. 4,) which, when the platen isexerting printing pressure, passes a yielding latch g5, (see Fig. 12,)pivoted at g6 and acted upon by a suitable spring Q7, the purpose ofsaid latch being to exert enough hold upon the heel during the firstpart of the outward movement of the platen tovpull the lock from thenotch in the ring h, this happening just about as the platen in itsoutward movement passes the end of the iinger fls, at which instant theplaten is quickly revolved, asV stated, for ninety degrecs, and as soonas asecond notch of the ring h comes opposite the lock the latter entersthe notch and prevents further rotation of the platen until afteranother impression.

The head C12 referred to (see Fig. 4) has at one side a guideway inwhich is tted to slide an auxiliary lock g8, (see Figs. 4, 12, 13, and23,) it having a stud g, which enters a camslot go'in an arm Q12, iixedto one of the side bars of the carriage G1L referred to, said aux iliarylock being elevated to engage a shoulder 12100 at one side of the notchb then opposite it in the ring l), just as'the rotation ofthe platenshould be arrested, the auxiliary lock preventing any excess of movementof the platen about the post C9, said auxiliary lock rising intoposition a little in advance of the reengagement of the ring l) of theplaten by the main lock, the, platen having been partially rotated.

The carriage CM referred to (see Figs. 2, 3, and 12) has a couplingdevice (shown as a pin 7i) which is engaged by one end of a lever h',loosely mounted on a suitable screw h2, said lever being acted upon andnormally held down by a spring h4, surrounding al thread ed rod h5,rising from said carriage and provided with a thumb-nut h, the underside of said lever having a notch (see Fig. 3) to cooperate with acam-finger k7, (see Fig. 2,) adjustably connected with the slide C5.

)Vhenever the slide C5 is moved backward to bring the platen P up to theform, the cam-iinger 7L?, connected therewith, enters the notch in thelever h', letting the pin h rest on the top of the form with a pressuremeasured by the spring h4, so that when a notch 10 of a forni attachedto the moving formcarrier arrives under said pin the latter popsinstantly into said notch, thus coupling the carriage to the movingform-plate, and there after during the time that the platen iscooperating with the form to make the impression the carriage referredto is moved positively in unison with the form-bed, and

the impression having been made and the slide C5 and platen movedoutwardly the camiinger k7, before referred to, acting on the lever h',raises the pin h and frees the carriage from thecontrol of the rotatingbed, and the lever' B2, through the cam-stud B, then moves the carriagebackwardly into the position that it occupied when it was started tomove in unison with the form-bed. In fact the carriage C11 is moved bythe lever B2 in the direction ot' rotation ot the form-bed during thetime of making the impression, but the coupling of the carriage and bedtogether aifords absolute unison of movement and obviates any chance ofblurring.

Each face of the platen is provided with sets of holders to hold thesheet or thing to be printed, and as these holders are substantially thesame at each face I need describe but one set.

Thelowerm ost grooved plate of the carriage C14 (see Fig. 12) isprovided with a spring 500, attached loosely at its end to said plate byscrews 501, said spring receiving through it a rod 502, the inner end ofwhich acts against the back of the latch g above its pivot g while theimpression is being made, the rod having upon it suitable adjusting-nuts 504 to thereby control the degree of pressure of the rodagainst the said latch, as will be readily understood.

The holders shown are composed of elbowshaped spring-arms m m', pivotedat m2 m3, (see Fig. 6,) the arm m' having a stud 'm4, which enters aslot in the arm in of such length as to enable said pin, when the arm m'is moved,

to move the arm m, the arm m having at its upper end a projection m6,which, a sheet having been presented by the carrier G1S to the platen,as will be described, is acted upon by a then upwardly-movingspring-wing mi, (see Figs. 2 and 26%) connected to a block m8,adjustably attached to a slide-bar m, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) pivoted uponthe outer end of a lever m10, pivoted at m12, and havin garoller orother stud which enters the cam-groove D8, said wing and slide-barconstituting holder-closing mechanism.

The upper ends of the levers constituting the holders are enlarged, andthe inner edges of the enlarged parts are reduced in thickness andoutturned to construct jaws opening toward each other, so as to enablethe enlarged ends to slide readily onto the edges of the sheet, therebyto grasp and direct the sheet at either edge thereof. The lever m10 hasalso connected to it a link m15, which is jointed to a slide-bar m11,(see Figs. 4, 12, and 2,) having at its lower end a projection' m16,provided with a finger m17, which is elevated when the arms are to beopened to permit a sheet to be taken from the platen, said finger thenacting on the projection m1 of the arm m andeecting the opening orseparation of the upper ends of the arms m m.

To prevent the envelop or sheet being printi -ed from sticking to theform when the platen` is being moved away from the form, which stickingmight also Ypull the sheet away from the holders m m', I have providedthe carriage C14 with pull-offs 'n' n', (see Figs. 4 and 12,) made assprings, said springs lying near the surface of the form and being actedupon by the sheet being printed, near its vertical edges, during the impressing operation the said pulloffs being pressed at such time towardthe form, so that when the platen is moved away from the form they will,in resuming their normal positions, act against the printed sheet andhelp detach it from the form in case there was any tendency for it tostick, so that said sheet goes readily with the platen.

The sheets, cards, or whatever Aare to loe printed are placed in thereceiver G, composed, essentially, of a bottom plate and two sideplates. receiver are acted upon at their outer ends by a guide G', whiletheir inner ends move over or against an inclined surface o, (see Fig.2,) the lowermost sheet of the pile resting on a forked plate 303, (seeFig. 16%) adjustably connected by a screw 304 toa bottom plate G3,attached to a stationary bracket 305, attached to bracket 19, theconstruction and position of the parts being such that the main part ofthe weight of the pile of sheets will fall upon the lowermost sheets ofthe pile at a .point near their outer ends, thus leaving their innerends substantially free from pressure, the inner end of said plate 303being biturcated, so that the perforated mouth (see Fig. 17) of asuction device G4, pivoted at G5, may act against the lowermost sheetnear its inner end and pull down the'- said end far enough to let it begrasped unerringly by a carrier, to be described.

VThe suction-box is hollow and has a branch 14, with which is connecteda flexible pipe G7, in turn connected with a pipe G8, in turn connectedwith a suitable exhaust-fan G9, so as to cause a strong indraft of airat the mouth of the separator. The separator has an arm 15, (see Fig.3,) provided with a camslot, in which enters a roller or other stud 16,carried by an arm 17 of a rock -shaft 18, mounted in an adjustablesleeve G14, (see Fig. 12%) in turn mounted in a bracket 19,

said rock-shaft having an attached arm G16, to which is adjustablyconnected a link G17, attached tothe short arm of the sheet-carrier G18,(see Figs. 2, 18, and 21,) pivoted on a stud 20, suitably supported bythe framework.

The carrier is peculiarly constructed, that is, its upper end is slottedat o from side to side and is bifurcated at o. The slot o receives anipping-roll 22, which is mounted upon a spring 23, (see Fig. 18,).saidspring normally acting to keep said roll in the outer end of the slot o.The roller 22 has an annular groove near its center, and inthebifurcation 'of the carrier at a point below the slot o I have placed aslidewedge 24. having a cam-surface 25 and having atY each end Thesheets s piled in the said IOC suitable projections 26, so that the saidslidewedge cannot be forced too far in either direction.

As the cam-surface of the wedge enters the annular groove in the roll itcauses t-he roll to rise and bite the sheet s (see Fig. 2l) with greateror less force between the said roll and the nipping ends 27 of thecarrier, and to adapt this nipping-roll to the particular thickness ofthe sheet I have provided the carrier with an adjusting-plate 2S, oneend of which is acted upon by an adjusting-screw 29, so as to cause thesaid plate to lift the wedge more or less, a set-screw 30, extendedthrough the carrier, clamping said block in its adjusted position.

The block referred to has a pin 30X, which enters slots 31 in thecarrier, so as to insure a straight-line movement of the block when itsbeveled lower end is being acted upon by the adjusting device. rlhewedge is acted upon at its side by a suitable spring 32, (see Fig. 18,)the stress of which is adjusted by an adjusting-screw 33. (See Fig. 1S.)

When the carrieris approachingr a sheet the lower end of which has beenseparated from the sheet above it bythe separator, the wedge will beprojected fully forward, (sec Figs. 2 and 21,) thus putting the roll inits lowest position and opening a space for the end of the sheet betweenthe upper side of the nipping-roll and the points 27 of the carrier, andthen in the further movement of the carrier onto the sheet the wedgestrikes a suitable stop, in this instance the shoulder 34 of theseparator, (see Fig; 17,) and in the further 1n ovement of the carrierthe nipping-roll,acted upon by the wedge, is made to nip the end of thesheet very firmly, so firmly that when the carrier is moved toward theplaten the nipping-roll will maintain a very iirm hold on and retain thesheet until the inner end of the wedge, as the carrier completes itsforward movement, meets the Wedge-releasing device (See Figs. 4 and 15.)

The wedge-releasing device is shown as a finger connected with asheet-guide composed, essentially, of U-shaped arms J J (see Figs. 15and 4,) the hub of which is secured to a stud J', mounted loosely in ayoke J2,the shank of which is adjustably secured to the framework of themachine by a suitable screw J2, said stud outside said yoke havingattached to it an arm J "t, provided with a stud J 5, which is actedupon normally by a suitable spring 3G, herein shown as surrounding a rod37, supposed to be connected to the framework of the machine and passedloosely through stud J5, said spring being controlled as to itseffective strength by a thumb-nut 38, normally keeping the U-shaped armspressed toward the platen.

To operate the sheet-guide in opposition to this spring and to throw ittoward the separator, I have in this instance of my invention providedthe stud J 5 With an adjust-able abutment 39, pivoted to arm J 4 andresting on a vertically adj usted.

screw 440, by means of which its outer endis The outer end of thisabutment is arranged immediately beneath the lower end of the slide-barmi referred to and acts as a friction-plate for said slide-bar to bearagainst in its vertical move ment. As the slide-bar m2 descends itswings stud J down against the resistance of spring 36,there by rockingthe stud J and operating the sheetguide. To limit the movement of theguidearms under the action of the said spring 3G, l have also providedsaid stud with an adjustable stop 40, which in this instance of myinvention is shown as a screwadapted to abut against the under side ofthe framework A2. Slide m2 passes through a guide-slot. 445 in the frameA2, which directs it against the abutment 39, as stated.

The arms J J at their upper ends are shaped each to form part of amouthpiece JX, into which the sheet is led by the carrier, each oi' saidarms having projecting from it a like rigid wing 42, upon which slidesan edge-gage 43, acted upon by a suitable spring 44. (See Fig. 4.)

As the carrier takes a sheet from the supply-box, the sheet-guide beingthen in its forward position, it draws said sheet into and through themouth of the sheet-guide and down through and between the ed ge-gages43, until the leading end of the sheet meets the stop 312, (see Fig.15,) and about as the inner end of the wedge meets the wedge-actuator 35to release the sheet the sheet-guide is moved forward toward the platen,and at the same time the slide-bar 'm2 is raised to close the holders mm upon the side edges of the sheet and clasp it iirmly upon the platen.

An ear of the head C12 has bolted to it an arm K, (see Figs. 2, 4, 12,and 13,) provided with a stud K', (see Fig. 2,) upon which is mounted anadjustable two-part link K2, the length of which may be altered to suitthe requirements of the work by or through the bolt K2 in suitable slotsin said link, the upper end of the link being substantially universallyjointed to a stud 44X, extended from the delivery-arm 45, fixed upon therock-shaft 18, heretofore described as actuating the carrier.

The delivery-arm has adj ustably connected to it at its outer end byscrew 4G, in a slot in said arm, a block 47, (sce Figs. 2 and 10,)provided with a stationary nipper 48 and a movable ni pper 4), which isacted upon by a spring 50 to normally close the delivery-nippers.

The spring-controlled nipper has an attached slide provided at its outerend (see Figs. 10 and 1l) with an oval or cam-shaped tailpiece 51,which, as the delivery-arm is moved down to grasp and take a sheet fromthe platen, slides along the outer side of a wing of a spring-controlleddog-plate 55X, which causes the movable nipper to be moved away from thefixed nipper, thus compressing the operating-spring 50. As soon as thesaid tailpiece passes oft the Win g of said dog- IIO IZO

plate the spring 50 resumes control of the movable nipper 49 and closesit upon the upper end of the sheet, the said tailpiece in the upwardmovement of the delivery-arm riding along the inner side of the saidwing, the latter, however, yielding or moving outwardly slightly, aspermitted to do by a spring 52,

(see Fig. 2,) the dog-plate aiding to keep the said nippers closedfirmly upon the sheet.

The delivery7 mechanism acts to take a printed and numbered sheet fromthe platen While the carrier is acting to supply the platen with a sheetfrom the pile, and vice versa.

Alongside of the feed-box I have arranged a receiving-box L, it havin garemovable bottom plate L', (shown best in Figs. 2 and 24,) it beingsecured to a short rock-shaft 53, said bottom plate having at one endsuitablestops 54, against which may be brought the end of the sheetgrasped between the nippers or jaws of the delivery device, said bottomplate also having a spring-clamp composed, essentially, of a bar 55,(see Figs. 14 and 24,) on one end of which is connected in yieldingmanner a spring-foot 56, the bar being acted upon by a spring 57, whichacts normally to move the said bar toward the center of the machine, orin the direction of the arrow. (See Fig. 24.) The spring-foot 56 is in aplane very slightly above the receiving-surface of the bottom plate L'by reason of the offset end of bar 55, Fig. 14, and rests normally in aslot provided therefor in the outer edge of said bottom plate, so thatits upturned end may receive the sheet before` the sheet strikes thestops 54.

In order to grasp the sheet delicately and' yet firmly, the foot 56 isspring-pressed near its outer end and guided in loose engagement withbar by a stud near its free inner end.

As the delivery rises with a sheet it draws the end of the latterunderthe spring-foot 56 just before the end of the sheet meets the stops54, thus enabling the delivery to deliver the end of the printed sheetto the springclamp of the bot-tom piece of the receiving-box.

The bottom piece having received a sheet, as described, is moved tocarry the said sheet up against the bottom of the pile of printed sheetsthen in the receiving-box. To do this, the rock-shaft 53, to which thesaid bottom piece is connected, is provided with an arm 58,

to which is adjustably attached by a suitable pin inthe slot of said arma rod 59, jointed to the lever L3, (see Fig. 3,) pivoted at L4, andhaving a roller or other stud entering the camgroove D9. The lower endof the receivingbox has like spring-cheeks 60, provided with suitablefingers 6l 62 63, (see Fig. 24,) the free ends of which are turnedupwardly and inwardly into the receiving-box, so that as the bottompiece is raised the edges and inn er end .of the sheet will be liftedbeyond the ends of said fingers connected to or forming parts of thespring-cheeks.

The bottom pieceis slotted opposite the cheeks, and in its upwardmovement carries the sheet held by the clamp above the lingers Thesprocket-wheel a is mounted loosely on the spindle d. (See Fig. 25.) Thespindle has fast to it a toothed pinion a2, which engages a toothedwheel a3, havin g an attached cam-hub a4, provided with a cam-groove a5,which receives a roller or other stud a6, (see Fig. 2,) fast on a levera7, pivoted at as on a stand am, secured to a bracket A30, fixed to theframework, the opposite end of said lever having attached to it a linka9, which in turn is attached to a lever al, provided with theductor-roll als, said ductor-roll being adapted to take ink from thefountain-roll L15 in the ink-fountain am, said fountain-roll beingrotated at suitable times by a suitable pawl 0.17, engaging aratchet-wheel als on its shaft, the pawl being carried by an arm am,pivoted at its upper end on the ink-box and deriving its movement from alink d20, loosely connected to a lever am, suitably pivoted on the standA and bifurcated at its rear end (see Fig. 4) to embrace the loose block369 on a stud370 of the stand @22, connected to a part of the carriageC14. (See Figs. 2, 4, and l2.)

The ductor-roll, when elevated, is made to IOO each having its endjournals mounted in like manner in arms 0,27 (128, (see Figs. 25 and26,) pivotally mounted upon suit-able like studs 60 6l, connected withrotating heads @29 e430, fixed on shaft a', each of said arms havingsuitable pins 62 63, which enter curved slots in said heads, suitablesprings, as @32, acting on each of said pins to normally keep the freeends of the arms pressed outwardly away from the centers of said heads.

The arms 0.27 are normally kept down by springs @33, surrounding thepivots on which they turn, said springs permitting said arms to beraised at the proper times, as when it is desiredto remove aninking-roll, for when said arms are'raised the inking-rolls maybereadily liftedv out from the lower arms w28.

The shaft of each inking-roll has two antifriction-rollers 64, which inthe rotation of the heads, as will be described, are made to travelalong suitable tracks das a3?, and when said rolls are traveling thereonthe springs @32 keep them against the tracks, the rolls controlled bysaid tracks traveling substantially straight across the faces of theforms.

The shaft a above the pinion a2 (see Fig. 25) is extended throughahollow sleeve 4n, which is held against rotation in the bracket A30 andis surrounded loosely by the distributing-bed n2, the upper end of saidshaft just below the head C629, mounted on said shaft, having fast uponit a gear n3, which engages a pinion n4, fast on a shaft 115, extendedIIO loosely through said distributing -bed, the lower end of said shafthaving a pinion n, which engages a pinion n?, fast to the lowermost headCLEO, which is mounted loosely upon the sleeve n, said head being alsoloose with relation to said shaft a', the lowermost head deriving itsrotation in unison with the uppermost head by or through the shaft ndescribed and the gears thereon.

Now in order to effect the proper distribution of the ink upon thedistributing-bed, so that the inking-rolls may take it uniformly fromsaid bed, I have made the distributingbed movable vertically, ratherthan the inking-rolls, and to effect this reciprocation of thedistributing-bed I have provided it at'its lower end with a finger ns,(see Fig. 25,) having a roller or other stud n, which enters thecam-groove c5, before described.

The distributing-bed is made as a cylinder with a secant side, (see Fig.136,) the secant side being next the form-bed and forms, so that theinking-rolls may have ample opportunity to move in a straight line insuccession across the form.

lAs herein shown I have preferred to number the sheets preparatory toprinting them, as that order of operation may, in the present embodimentof my invention, be the more easily effected.

The numbering device herein shown consists, essentially, of a series offour numbering-wheels 66, (see Fig. 4,) each provided with numbers fromO to 9, inclusive. These wheels in practice have connected to themsuitable ratchet-teeth, and they are mounted upon a suitable spindle ina frame 67, said wheels being adapted to be ratcheted about in usualmanner by suitable pawls, the unitswheel completing a rotation beforethe tenswheel starts, and the tens-wheel completing a rotation beforethe hundreds-wheel starts, the., all as is well known.

I have mounted the frame carrying the numbering-wheels, which may be ofany usual construction, upon a block 68, connected with a rock-shaft 69(see also Fig. 3) in a suitable bearing 70, bolted to a lever 71 nearits upper end. The lever 7l is pivoted at 72 upon a yoke 7 3, mountedupon pivot-studs 7 4, the points of which enter pits in the ends'of thestud C13, before described, said lever having a projecting arm 75,(removed in Fig. 4,) provided with an inclined dog 76, (see Figs. 3, 16,and 20,) made adjustable thereon by a suitable Aadjusting-screw 77,clamp-screws 7 S holding the dog in adjusted position.

rlhe arm 75 lies in the range of movement of the platen,` and the platenin its outward movem ent,it having been revolved and locked in position,meets the said arm and thereafter moves the arm and lever 7l back inunison with it, causing the cam projection 76 to meet a roll 7 9 at theend of a finger 80, (see Fig. 19,) fixed on the framework, (see Fig. 3,)the dog 76, riding over said roll, causing the lever 71 to be turned onits pivot 72 against the spring 7 2", adjacent to the limiting-stop 7 2band stud 7 2, Fig. 16, thus carrying with it the rockshaft 69, upon'which, as before stated, is

mounted the numbering device carrying block 63, so that said numberingdevice is caused to act against and number the sheet then held on theface of the platen.

The rock-shaft 69 referred to has an arm 7 3X, provided with a stud 74X,upon which is mounted a forked arm 15X-, bearing an inkin groller 76X, aspring 77X, (see Fig. 3,) fixed at one end to said stud and to a pin orprojection on said arm, causing said inking-roller to travel over theink-face of the distributingplate 7 8X, shown as a circular tab1e,)supplied with ink by hand or in any other suitable manner.

When the rock-shaft 69 is moved in the direction of the arrow near it inFig. 16, the inking-roll will travel upwardly across thedistributing-plate, and at the same time the numbering device will comedown to and be met by the surface of the inking-roll and take inktherefrom, and in the reverse movement of said rock-shaft the numberingdevice is brought up into working position to again meet a sheet on theplaten as the lever 71 is turned, as described.

The rock-shaft 69 derives its movement in the following manner, viz: Atit outer end it has an arm p, provided with a stud p', having,preferably, a ball-shaped head embraced vby a box at the upper end of aconnecting-rod p2, herein shown as made in two parts, so as to belongitudinally adjustable as to length, the lower end of saidconnecting-rod having a box p3, having a spherical seat to embrace aballshaped head (see Fig. 13) at the outer end of a stud p4, carried bya lever p5, connected rigidly to the ears of the head C12.

` The shaft a' below the pinion a2 has splined on it a collar SOX,provided at its opposite ends with suitable pins, an annular groove insaidV collar being entered by a projection from a hand-lever 31, mountedon a pin S2 of a stud 83, so that said collar may be raised to uncoupleit from the sprocket-wheel a and leave the shaft avl at rest, or loweritto couple it to said sprocket-wheel, as when the said shaft is to berotated andthe inking-rolls be made to travel about the distributing-bedand furnish ink to the form, said stud serving as the v center of motionfor the cam-hub a4 and its gear a3.

The rock-shaft 18, employed for operating the sheet-delivery and thesheet-carrier, is eX- tended, as stated, through a hollow sleevebearingor nut G14. Said bearing (see Fig. 12a) is threaded externally andprovided at one end with a head 84, against which bears the delivery-arm45 as the latter is moved, and if it is desired to adjust thedelivery-nippers to' ward or from the face of theplaten, so as toproperly engage the sheet, it is only necessary to turn the said nut andadjust the said bearing longitudinally until the head against which thedelivery-arm bears is at the proper distance to enable the nippers toexactlyand accurately engage the edge of the sheet.

\ In numbering sheets in consecutive series,

the numbering device once during each rev` Volution of the movable bed.

lo effect this automaticmovement of `the numbering device to countconsecutively, I have provided the bed with a cam yr, (see Fig. 3,)which at veach revolution ofthe bed strikes a pin 1",

mounted in the carriage C14, causing said pin to act upon the inner endof a lever fr?, (see Fig. 12,) pivoted at r3, the outer end of saidlever acting upon a slide-rod r4, mounted in suitable ears of the saidcarriage, causing -said slide-rod to be depressed against the action ofa suitable spring This slide-rod carries an arm r6, (see Figs. 3 and 4,)which in each rotation of the bed is depressed and made to act upon theend of a lever lri, which I have pivoted upon the block 68, said lever-carrying the actuating-pawls for the numbering device. I

.In practice the lever B2 draws upon and would move the carriage C14 inthe direction of travel of the bed were it not for the locking togetherof the carriage and the bed, but by locking the,r carriage and the bedtogether during the time that the platen is coperat- -ing with the formto make an impression I -am enabled to gain a double accuracy and insurean absolute unison in movement wit-hout the possibility of one slippingwith relation to the other, which would result in blurring the print.

The lever 7l, carrying the n umbering mechanism, is held pressed towardthe form-bed by means of a strong spring 90. (Best represented in Fig.4:.)

As so far described the platen employed has been referred to as amultisided platen, but in Fig. 2S the platen has but one acting face.

Referring to Fig. 2S, let C represent the form-bed in top plan, supposedto be provided in usual manner with forms, and C14 part of the carriagemounted thereon, the said carriage receiving motion on said bed whiletheimpression is being made by the lever B2 and link B5, as alreadyprovided for.

In the modification, 506 is supposed to rep resent the top of the frame,mounted by a pivot 507 on the carriage C14. In practice there will betwo such plates 506, one directly below the other, and one lattached tothe upper and the other to the lower end of the platen 508, partiallyshown by breaking away the upper plate 506. The plate 506 is shown asprovided with a stud 510, which is encircled by a strap at the forwardend of a link 512, corresponding in purpose and function with Ihelinkmarked C3 in Fig. 2, each link deriving its lnotion in substantially thesame manner.

'The sin glefaced platen referred to and pivotally mounted upon or withrelation to and movable with the carriage on the bed may also be movedtoward and from the forms carried by the form-carrier, as described ofthe multisided platen.

The sin gle-faced platen may have cooperate ing with it suitablecarrying devices to present a sheet to the platen and then to effect thetaking away of the printed sheet.

The types or wheels hereinbefore designated under the term numberingdevices or mechanism, together withV the inking devices coperatin gtherewith, constitute what I may designate in some ofthe claims as anauxiliary printing mechanism, for it will be obvious that the said typesor Wheels may be readily exchanged for other suitable types orprinting-characters adapted to print Words or other symbols, accordingto the matter it may be desired to print upon the sheet while the latteris held on the platen. The printing done by thisauxiliary printingmechanism may be in the same color or in a different color from thatused in connection With forms on the form-bed; and I consider as withinthe scope of my invention the use of any type or printing-characterinstead of the nu mbering-wheel.

In my invention the auxiliary printing\ -platen and before it isdischarged therefrom it is also pressed against the form on the formbed,so that each sheet coperates with two different printing mechanisms.

l have herein shown but one carriage G14 as mounted upon or cooperatingwith the rotary form-carriage, but I do not limit myself to one, as Imay use a series of said carriages and platens mounted thereon andarrange them about the form-bed at suitable distances apart, and thismay be done merely by duplicatin g the carriages and platens andcarriers to present the sheets to the platen and delivery devices totake the sheets away from the platen, and each set of devicescooperating with the form-bed may be operated in like manner, this beingeasily done owing to the devices being arranged around a common center.l

My invention herein set forth is broadly novel in its main features, andin view thereof I wish it to be understood thatI do not limit myselfin-any respect otherwise than as set forth in the following claims.

The various details of construction may be widely varied in form andarrangement Within the scope of my invention. For instance, the platensmay have one or more faces, as preferred, and the invention is notlimited to the exact shape of the platen, the number of its sides, orthe exact devices shown for effecting the movement of the platen, nor tothe devices shown for providing the platen with sheets or taking printedsheets therefrom; nor is this invention limited to the exact IOO IIO

